Starting Chemo in March 2014

Laughing about your tales of transvaginal ultrasounds; from the age of 39 through 44, I underwent five extremely grueling years of almost constant infertility treatments in the pursuit of a second child. I had 21 intra-uterine inseminations and 13 (count 'em, 13) cycles of IVF before finally accepting that my body just wasn't going to cough up another viable egg. I took all kinds of genuinely scary drugs to manipulate my hormones over those five years, and as a result was monitored on what felt like a daily basis with transvaginal ultrasounds.

I used to joke with other ladies undergoing infertility treatment that I was having a date with "Rod".  The whole experience pretty much eliminated every trace of shame I have, because the treatments were so invasive. At this point, I don't even care if they close the exam room door while I'm slipping into a gown. 

Lorbgoo, I cut hair in a retirement home, my clients are 80-104, they will get their hair done when they are sick and head back to their apartments to go back to bed. I am going to try to keep working, I'm going to keep masks handy but kids would probably get scared by that. I'm also going to try and make my clients understand that they can't come down if they are sick. We'll see how it goes, I like my job, afraid if i'm not there for 4 months I will lose it.

I think I missed it, but what is the icing for? is it to prevent neuropathy? I asked my doc about it, and she said it wasn't really an issue for AC, but more of an issue for TCH....any thoughts?

NadiaT, 

Taxol and Taxotere can cause neuropathy of hands and feet. I am an RN and at work I'm on my feet all day long. I really need to have feeling in my hands to start IVs and such. I hope the icing works. With AC you shouldn't have a problem. Wendy

For those of you who are icing, just picked this up at Target today:

Pack-it Freezable Cooler

The neat thing about this one is that it has ice packs actually built in to the cooler itself - you can just fold the cooler up and stick it in your freezer. I'll probably use extra ice packs in it, but it's nice that it has the added benefit of built-in ones.

Both feet fit comfortably inside. Way cheaper than the $125 booties they sell on Amazon, at any rate.

Nadia - what a cool job

Nina - I know what you mean about those booties on Amazon. When there are cheap options like dish pans or coolers and ice or ice packs it can't be justified.

Hi ladies.  Chemo Day 1 for me tomorrow and although quite anxious I am ready to kill c-cells.  My 1st three rounds of 5-fluo, epirubicin & cytoxan will be accompanied by self-injected shots of neupogen.  My antiemetics for these three rounds will be aprepitant, zofran, maxeran and decadron and my onc nurse said those should keep the nausea under control.  Chemo Day 1 should be @ 3 hours long with the first hour getting set up and on a drip for hydration. I am having a PICC line inserted to stay in during all 6 rounds (the final three will be taxatore, with decadron).  Have stocked up on senokot-s, immodium, tylenol; aleve, hand sanitizers, face masks if needed, and wipes to use instead of toilet paper.  My nurse said ok to keep taking the probiotic I've been taking for a year or so but to put the other vitamins, supplements away for a while.  I tried on some wigs yesterday but thought I looked hideous in them so not sure what I'll do about the head and will have to make some decision on that real soon ... lol. 

I am hoping to continue working throughout even if limited time in office - I luckily can remote access into our work server and print off documents in the office so that on days that I won't be wanting to pretty-up for work I'll go in after hours.  Going to keep setting my alarm clock for regular 6:30 wake up and trying to keep everything as regular as can be in this topsy-turvey BC treatment world. 

THANK YOU is not near enough to express my gratitute to all of you for sharing your experiences ... it is making this sooo much easier to bear.  Hope to log on when I get home from clinic tomorrow to share my experience.  LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL.

Go get 'em, lalala!! I hope your infusion is a breeze, and that no side effects follow you home :-)

Good luck to you lalala! And here's hoping everyone else has minimal symptoms going forward!

Lots of posts here on what to expect during chemo.  First, everyone's experience is different and please know that you are not alone.  Your doctors and nurses will help guide you through the process and there are a ton of resources to help you navigate through the next few weeks/months. You've started on the right path by reaching out to this discussion board and searching for answers!

Hang in there and good luck!

Dawn Bontempo

Author: Breast Cancer Mardi Gras: Surviving the Emotional Hurricane and Showing my Boobs to Strangers

• Diagnosed 10/12/2012, IDC, ER+/PR+, HER2- at Age 41
• Chemotherapy December 2012- March 2013 Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol (one round of Taxotere)
• Radiation Therapy April 2013 - June 2013

Good luck lalala. sounds like you are well prepared! 

Lorbgoo - it feels better once you have a plan, promise.

Hey!

So for our record of hair things, I chopped all of mine off today. Here is the before:

Here's Nina - The Chopped Version:

And a few shots of me with Clarice the Wig:

My stylist cut some bangs into Clarice the wig, and took a razor to the hair that framed my face so that it would look a little less "wiggy". Based on this experience, I would absolutely recommend that you make the time to visit your hairstylist so he/she can futz with it a bit and make it right for you. 

Ooooh, I have to name mine....I brought her to the hair stylist for a touching up too. Nina, yours looks amazing. So real. I think I am deciding to get my hair cut real short, like inches or buzzed,  right before treatment 2. That way I won't be caught in the shower before work, have all my hair fall out, and then have to  be upset AND figure out what to put on my head.

Nina I love it!!! It looks wonderful. You are so pretty. I wish I knew how to post pictures. 

It was nice and hot today. High was around 65 and sunny. I took my dog for a walk with my daughter. I also took my daughter shopping. It sure did get my mind off of things. 

CancerVixen - re the pimples - YES!  I had tons of them during chemo - I think I could have given any 14 year old boy in the state a run for his money in the pimple department!  I ended up using a salicylic acid face wash - Neutrogena makes one that worked well for me.

I must say, I'm really impressed with this March 2014 group.  I've been posting encouragement in all the March groups since my chemo in 2008, and this group has formed a solid support group very quickly.  It's great to see.  Go Chemo Marchers!